Yomiuri Giants 3 - Yokohama Bay Stars 2
The Giants took an early 2-0 lead in the first after Hayato Sakamoto (1-for-4, BB, HR, 2 R, RBI) lead-off with walk, followed by an RBI triple by Tetsuya Matsumoto (1-for-3, HBP, R, RBI) for the first run. Michihiro Ogasawara (0-for-4, RBI) grounded out to first, scoring Matsumoto from third.

The game would remain tied until the bottom of the 9th when Sakamoto hit a game-winning solo homer off Hiroki Sanada with 1 out; it was Sakamoto's first walk-off home run of his career.

Hisanori Takahashi started in his first game since April 25th and tossed a solid 7 innings: 5 H, 10 K, 2 BB, 2 R 2 ER. But it was Tetsuya Yamaguchi (2 IP, K, 0 R) that got the win. Tom Mastny (7 IP, 7 H, 5 K, BB, 2 HBP, 2 R, 2 ER) started his third game and once again did not figure in the decision despite pitching well. Hiroki Sanada took the loss.

Tokyo Dome
Attendance: 43,182
Time: 2h 53m

Hanshin Tigers - Yakult Swallows
Rained out

Jingu
Attendance: --
Time: --

Chunichi Dragons 4 - Hiroshima Carp 2
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third, when the Dragons scored 3 runs on 4 hits, 3 of which were doubles. They scored another run in the bottom of the 8th on a double by Tony Blanco (3-for-4, 2 2B, R, RBI), a walk to Masahiko Morino (0-for-3, BB), and an RBI single by Atsushi Fujii (2-for-4, RBI).

The Carp got on the board in the top of the 5th on a solo homer by Scott Seabol (2-for-4, HR, R, RBI). They scored their second and final run in the top of the 6th after Akihiro Higashide (1-for-3, BB, R) walked to lead off the inning. A sac bunt by Masato Akamatsu (0-for-3) moved him up a base and Soichiro Amaya (3-for-4, 2B, RBI) doubled him home.

Takuya Asao (8 IP, 7 H, 3 K, 2 BB, HBP, 2 R, 2 ER) evened out his record to 3-3 with a win and Hitoki Iwase picked up his first save (and appeared in his first game) since beaning Norichika Aoki on April 30th. Yuki Saito (6 IP, 7 H, 5 K, 2 BB, 3 R, 3 ER) picked up the loss.

Nagoya Dome
Attendance: 36,159
Time: 2h 34m

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Rakuten Eagles 6 - Seibu Lions 3
The Eagles' 10 or more hits streak ended, but they still managed to score 6 runs on 8 hits. And for the first time this season, Kohei Hasebe (7 IP, 6 H, 4 K, 5 BB, HBP, R, ER) managed to pick up a quality start.

The Lions got on the board with a run in the first: a lead-off triple by Yasuyuki Kataoka (1-for-3, 2 BB, 3B, 2 R) and an RBI single by Takumi Kuriyama (2-for-4, BB, R, RBI). The Eagles answered back with a run in the second on a sac fly by Yosuke Takasu (0-for-0, RBI). The game would remain tied until the top of the 5th when the Eagles scored 4 runs on a walk, HBP, 2 singles, and a double. The Eagles scored their 6th and final run in the 6th when Fernando Seguignol (0-for-3) reached first on an error by Hiroyuki Nakajima (1-for-4, BB) and then later scored on a single by Ryuji Miyade (1-for-2, RBI).

The Lions would score one last time in the 9th when Takeya Nakamura (1-for-3, BB, 2B, 2 RBI) hit a double to score 2 runs.

Takasu was taken off the field in the bottom of the third after crashing into Teppei Tsuchiya. Takasu was diagnosed with a fairly severe left ankle sprain. ... The Eagles are now 8 game over .500, a club first.

Seibu Dome
Attendance: 31,440
Time: 3h 30m

Chiba Lotte Marines 7 - Nippon Ham Fighters 3
The Marines were on a 3-game losing streak and another loss would have put the team on the wrong side of momentum going into a 3-game set with the Eagles on Friday. And for the first time this season, Shunsuke Watanabe (5 IP, 6 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 ER) was able to secure a victory. Brian Sweeney (5.1 IP, 4 H, K, 4 BB, 5 R, 5 ER) struggled again and is now 0-3 on the year.

The Fighters got on the board first with 2 runs in the third: Shinya Tsuruoka (1-for-2, R) singled to start the inning; Makoto Kaneko (0-for-2) bunted him over; Kensuke Tanaka (0-for-1, 3 BB) worked out a walk to put runners on first and second; Toshimasa Konta (0-for-3) struck out for the second out of the inning; and Atsunori Inaba (2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI) drilled a 2-run double to left.

The game would stay 2-0 until the bottom of the 5th when the bottom of the Lotte offense suddenly woke up (the bottom 5 batters combined to go 9-for-19 with 5 runs and 7 RBI). Shoitsu Ohmatsu (1-for-2, HR, R, 2 RBI) led of the inning with his 2nd home run of the season; Saburo Ohmura (2-for-4, 2 R) struck out for the first out; Kazuya Fukuura (1-for-3, BB, R) followed with walk and Tomoya Satozaki (3-for-4, HR, R, 4 RBI) nailed his 3rd homer of the season.

The Marines would score 4 more runs over the next 2 innings while the Fighters countered with 1 in the 7th.

Chiba Marine
Attendance: 23,139
Time: 3h 14m

Softbank Hawks 5 - Orix Buffaloes 1
This was a good win for the Hawks, especially coming off a tough loss yesterday in which D.J. Houton tossed a complete game while only giving up 2 runs.

Kenji Ohtonari gave the Hawks a solid 6 innings while giving up a run (earned) on 5 hits, 3 strike outs, 2 walks, and 2 HBPs. Shogo Yamamoto (5 IP, 8 H, 3 K, 2 BB, 4 R, 4 ER) was saddled with his first loss of the season.

The Buffaloes lone run came in the first inning when Greg LaRocca (1-for-2, BB, HBP, RBI) singled Naoyuki Ohmura (1-for-3, R) home from second. The Hawks scored their first run in the top of the fourth, tying the game at 1. A walk, 5 singles, and a double gave the Hawks 4 runs in the top of the 6th, more than enough in a game where their pitching managed to shut-down the Buffaloes offense. The Hawks could have had a bigger inning if not for two base-running mistakes that ended their prematurely.

Nobuhiko Matsunaka (1-for-4, HBP, R) recorded his 1,500th hit of his career with a single in the 6th off Shogo Yamamoto.